9 killed by lightning

MALDA, May 8: Nine people including women, children and a contesting candidate in the upcoming rural polls died after they were struck by lightning in several places of Malda district this afternoon. The death toll is feared to increase.Habibur Rahman (42), a CPI-M candidate for Bhado gram panchayat in Ratua, was struck by lighting when a storm lashed through the northern part of the district at 12.30 p.m. The district magistrate, Malda has instructed block officials to estimate damages and loss of life due to storm. The storm killed one Jagannath Mandal (55) and destroyed more than 50 huts in an island in the Ganga in Kaliachak-II.District officials said, three people were struck by lightning at Bilaimari, another island on the bank of river Fulahar, in Ratua police station. Eight wounded people were admitted to the Ratua health centre. At Khempur village in Ratua, Afjal Hossain (25) and Nasiruddin (42) were killed by lightning at Samsi. Hazi Bassar Ali (40) was struck by lightning while shopping at Samsi Haat. Lightning also killed one Prasenjit Saha (13) in English Bazaar and injured his friend Sanju and two others. They had to be admitted to Malda district hospital. n sns